From the Pro: Playing it smart always best way to lower scores

All golfers want to score better. The two greatest requests I get as an instructor and coach are: “I want more power” or “I want more consistency.”

I agree both of those will help a player lower his or her score and play better golf.

But making better decisions will also help our cause. For as long as we play golf, we will always make bad swings. But can our decisions help us get away with a bogey rather than a double, triple or more? Absolutely.

Let’s look at the percentages of the game of golf to increase your probabilities as a golfer through the decisions and choices you are making and let’s leave the ego in the trunk.

There are eight ways to miss a ball: high and low on the clubface, toe, heel, fat, thin, open and closed. There is only one Sweet Spot. This is an 8-1 ratio of misses to perfection.

When making club selection, be realistic and plan on a slight miss and make sure you have the club that will still carry the required distance. If you are 1 inch off center, you will lose between 8-10 percent of your carry yardage. On a 150-yard shot, 1 inch off center will only carry about 135 yards. So that decent shot you hit just dumped in the front bunker or the water.

Focus your training and practice on improving your misses. Settle for getting a difficult chip shot on the green instead of getting cute and hitting a low percentage flop shot. Be patient when putting and play for two-putts and let the one-putts happen.

Play the percentages and lower your scores.

— Paul Holtby is a PGA professional who works at the Barber Practice Center in Moortpark. He can be reached at holtby61@paulholtbygolf.com.